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Hi Guys, My betta is still with swimbladder disease after 2 months, otherwise He seems pretty healthy, I used Erythromicin as Cory told me (in fact I gave him two rounds of 4 days each) and He's healing very slowly. I make 50% water changes twice peer week. Anyone have any other reccomendation??? I don't know what else to try.

Thanks
Hector

Last edited by hcelizondo at 22-Feb-2005 12:15

How is he pooping, Hector? Is it regular? That is very important for SBD.

If not, I'd try an epsom salt bath (magnesium sulfate). I can describe this later if he is stopped up.

What is he being fed daily?

The other thought is worms. The very best dewormer is Praziquantel - at least for most. But, if the worm is in the swim bladder it won't help him there. In the US we can get this in a product called Parasite Clear Tank Buddies by Jungle or Prazi-Pro, another product.

Injury to the swim bladder can also be at the root.

If it is any help, my sister had a betta with SBD live for 3 years. He just kind of did his own thing.

Can you get a nitrate reading on the tank he is in?

Hi Cori,
He is pooping fine, a friend of mine reccomend me to mix peas, beef heart, Nopal and gelatin, He use it for bloating problems with good results. To avoid any bloating I feed this to him for one week and he seems just a little bit better, tried the Erythromicin as you reccomend me and I see a little improvement, Nitrates is not an issue since I'm doing 50%-60% water changes twice per week, Since Last week He's eating Bettamin as usual (as a pig).

As you said it could be an Injury to the swim bladder, because He's so normal (beside that), and I'm guessing at this point stop worrying about it and just provide him the best water quality and see what happens? What do you think?

Thanks
Hector

All you can do is to make him comfortable. Like I said, my sister's betta lived 3 years with SBD. The fish didn't seem to mind, once it acclimated.

Hi Hector, what size tank is he in? Also are there other fish in with him? What is the water temp?

Sorry for the questions but I missed your other thread. I have healed 3 bettas with swimbladder and one of the considerations is pristine water conditions. I did 100% water changes on their 2 gallon tanks every 6 days. Also you might want to use aqua salt... 1/2 tsp per gallon. Once a betta has had an illness I found they are more delicate, suseptable to other illnesses.

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If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

Hi Light,
He is alone in a 5g tank, water temp is at 27C (78F). I rised the temp since he's with the swim bladder issue since mid december. I have used salt for 1 month without any improvement. I was very worried about any other affections but He seems pretty much normal so I'm hopping there wouldn't be more complications. I've treated him with erythromicin, Tetracycline and Sulfanamide & Trimethoprim (bactrim).

Thanks
Hector

Can he get to the top of the tank okay? If not, lower the water. I am with Di on this one. I would stop all the meds and just keep him very clean, gravel vac up any waste and keep doing the water changes. Also try not to feed him any freezed dried blood worms. They tend to bind up a betta with other problems. What are you feeding now? I like Hikari bio gold pellets. I feed three in the morning and three at night.

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If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

I like Hikari BioGold too. Looking at the ingredient list, they take betta constipation into consideration . It has magnesium sulfate as one of the ingredients A happy betta is a regular betta.

Yes He's reaching the surface without trouble , Is very active just like if he hasn't sick , and I have been looking for the Hikari Pellets but looks like no one carries it on town so I use Bettamin by tetra


Hector